Christmas Deadline Stress

[territorialmillworks]

I set a pace for all my Christmas presents only to have my vacation time changed.  The stress effected the quality which then amped up my frustration which then effected the quality !!!   I wrestled with this for several days until I accepted the situation for what it was and decided to send IOUs with an apology.  Can't really say that I'm happy with the compromise but I've got enough mental health to focus on quality and not let the deadline rob me of the joy.  

 

To the I Forge Iron community-------  Merry Christmas and a great 2014 at the forge.

[Crazy Ivan]

I have the same thing going on right now as well. Its amazing how fast a couple quick jobs I think I can prioritize to make fast cash can mess up my schedules. Thanks to the help and advice from the folks on IFI, my patience and attitude have remained at a manageable level even with deadline fever. (referring to the topic "A Smith's mental health, Tips for keeping calm and forging on")

-Crazy Ivan

[Curly]

Felling a bit like that here at the moment. Was hoping to forge some nice gifts for the family this year. However a national newspaper featured my cooking tripod as one of their top ten Christmas gifts this week. Which I was over the moon about. Now 70 odd tripods later and the last one went out of the door this morning. I now only have a few days left to finish up some other jobs I had on. Will have to see what stock I have left over from shows that I can rebrand as gifts!

[quick60]

Im in the same boat.  Had several last minute orders for locker signs that forced my forging of Christmas presents to the back burner so I can make everyone elses Christmas presents.  But thats what pays the bills.  I have faith I will get it all in. 

 

I also have a welding job that was literally dropped off at my garage door yesterday as well.  I work with a group that converts school buses into mass casualty transport units for fire departments.  They started the job yesterday and want it done by Monday afternoon.

 

Good luck to you all and Merry Christmas!!!!!

[reitenger]

I have gotten in the habit of making a certain amount of things available for the Christmas season and also making things throughout the year for both gifts for friends and family and to have available to sell.  That way I can avoid feeling rushed if my main work ends up burying me late in the season or more people want to order something from me later in the season.  This year I made 12 firepits that I offered up starting in October.  Sold 10 quick and just got back from doing a custom install of the 11th one that also included railing for a 3200sqft deck up in the mountains.

 

It is a lot easier if during the year when you are making things, you take the time to bend a few extra hooks or make an extra something here and there.  It will pay off when you are making runs to FedEx to ship things and having lunch with the wife or doing a last minute paying job because you have the time instead of being buried